Quaint,
traditionally styled bed-and-breakfast with super-friendly hosts
Excellent
cooked-to-order breakfast included in rate
Set on quiet,
residential street close to bus stop allowing easy access to city center
All rooms have
free Wi-Fi and tea/coffee facilities
Most rooms have
four-poster beds
Not within
walking distance of city center
Breakfast service
finishes early
The AmarAgua is a
traditionally styled bed-and-breakfast housed in a quaint terrace
townhouse built towards the end of the 19th century. The five guest rooms are clean and homey, and most have four-poster beds. As well as particularly
friendly hospitality from the owners, breakfast is a real highlight with a
range of options from haggis to waffles -- though guests might need to set an
alarm not to miss it. Location of this budget property is pleasant and quiet, though a 15-minute bus
journey from the city center. If setting isn't an issue, then rates are very reasonable
and there's very little to find fault with at this particularly welcoming
Edinburgh guesthouse.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Traditional bed-and-breafkast with friendly hosts occupying Victorian terrace townhouse
The AmarAgua is
housed in a quaint terrace townhouse that dates back to the late 19th century. Built in typical Edinburgh sandstone with gray-slate tile roof, the charming property has a small,
tidy front garden with lanterns, leafy shrubbery, and a handsome stone bench. Inside, the decor is very much suburban bed-and-breakfast, with a homey
ambience combining with old-fashioned Victorian touches, gilt-framed mirrors,
and numerous Asian vases and artifacts. Owners Dawn-Ann and Tony bought the property
in 2001, and place an emphasis on genuinely friendly and warm hospitality to their
guests, providing a very attentive yet unobtrusive presence -- guests can expect friendly banter and storytelling from Tony at breakfast time. The result is a clean,
quiet, and unpretentious guesthouse that attracts travelers from around the
world looking for simple accommodation with a personal touch.
Location
Set on quiet residential street a mile from Edinburgh's center
The guesthouse is
located in a quiet and residential side-street just off the main road running
though Edinburgh's Newington area. Although not ideally located for exploring
the city's tourist attractions on foot, local buses connect to the Scottish
capital's historical center -- including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and
Waverly Station -- in around 15 to 20 minutes. Holyrood Park and the superb city
views from Arthur's Seat are about 20 to 30 minutes on foot -- though the treks are mostly uphill.
Rooms
Most rooms have four-poster beds and original period features
The bed-and-breakfast has
five rooms, three with king-size four-poster beds, one with a double bed, and one Triple (consisting of a double and a single room with separate, shared shower).
Rooms are individually styled though largely classically decorated with Asian-inspired or plaid- or floral-patterned fabrics, framed etchings, and carpeted floors. Chandelier-style
lighting, tasseled lampshades, wood furnishings, and original period features like pitched ceilings and (unusable) fireplaces add to the
interiors' traditional feel. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea/coffee
facilities, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels,
while clean, traditional bathrooms have step-in showers and sea kelp extract
toiletries. The website says all rooms have satellite channels so going with that.
Features
Excellent buffet and cooked-to-order breakfast -- though service finishes early
As to be expected from a bed-and-breakfast, there's little in the way of facilities. However, an excellent
breakfast (included in the rate) is served each morning, consisting of buffet
and cooked-to-order options, from a full Scottish breakfast with haggis to
waffles with maple syrup and berries. Breakfast service finishes relatively
early at 9 a.m., however, making a lie-in tricky, though guests with super-early
departures can arrange a take-away continental breakfast. Although there's no
on-site parking, there are usually plenty of spaces on the street and in its
surrounding neighborhood. The warm hosts, both lovely conversationalists and generous with local travel and restaurant tips, are other pluses at this property.
